Well, I think the important part that was left out there is that 3 of Carolina's 5 wins are in that 5 game stretch, including a win over Atlanta (which has to balanced out by losing to KC, whatever the extenuating circumstances of that game were), so he's suddenly not turning the ball over and they are playing better (winning more) as a result.

Step forward, or just a decent stretch against largely poor competition? Who knows, though I suspect the latter.